Anyone ever change oil in rental car?

[CapitalTruck]

Rented a ‘23 Suburban from Budget today. This is in preparation for taking family on a 1600 mile 1.5 week trip to Mackinac Island MI. Like all rental experiences, the reservation system is a complete crap shoot. The only reason I got the Suburban that I reserved is that while I was there standing in a monstrous line to get to the counter someone returned a Suburban. Anyway, they did a half-hearted attempt to wash/clean it then put me in it.
I get in the thing and “Change Oil Soon” indicator flashes and oil life remaining is at 0%. No way I’m going on 1600 mile trip with expired oil. I couldnt swap it out with Budget since there most likely was nothing to swap to. So I figured WTH and just changed the oil by lantern light this evening. Obviously oil was bought on price alone, Supertech 0w20 Synthetic (5.3 engine in this one, not the exploder 6.2). I did put on ACDelco filter (as opposed to cheapest). Filter that was removed was application correct Pennzoil. On another note, tires are also near wear bars and I had to add Dex-Cool to bring it up to the line. Does anyone remember when renting a car was like driving a new vehicle? I swear, it matters not what agency, they all just “ship it” now.

 

[4WD]

Rented a ‘23 Suburban from Budget today. This is in preparation for taking family on a 1600 mile 1.5 week trip to Mackinac Island MI. Like all rental experiences, the reservation system is a complete crap shoot. The only reason I got the Suburban that I reserved is that while I was there standing in a monstrous line to get to the counter someone returned a Suburban. Anyway, they did a half-hearted attempt to wash/clean it then put me in it.
I get in the thing and “Change Oil Soon” indicator flashes and oil life remaining is at 0%. No way I’m going on 1600 mile trip with expired oil. I couldnt swap it out with Budget since there most likely was nothing to swap to. So I figured WTH and just changed the oil by lantern light this evening. Obviously oil was bought on price alone, Supertech 0w20 Synthetic (5.3 engine in this one, not the exploder 6.2). I did put on ACDelco filter (as opposed to cheapest) On another note, tires are also near wear bars and I had to add Dex-Cool to bring it up to the line. Does anyone remember when renting a car was like driving a new vehicle? I swear, it matters not what agency, they all just “ship it” now.

Platinum member !!!!

 

[4WD]

Rented a ‘23 Suburban from Budget today. This is in preparation for taking family on a 1600 mile 1.5 week trip to Mackinac Island MI. Like all rental experiences, the reservation system is a complete crap shoot. The only reason I got the Suburban that I reserved is that while I was there standing in a monstrous line to get to the counter someone returned a Suburban. Anyway, they did a half-hearted attempt to wash/clean it then put me in it.
I get in the thing and “Change Oil Soon” indicator flashes and oil life remaining is at 0%. No way I’m going on 1600 mile trip with expired oil. I couldnt swap it out with Budget since there most likely was nothing to swap to. So I figured WTH and just changed the oil by lantern light this evening. Obviously oil was bought on price alone, Supertech 0w20 Synthetic (5.3 engine in this one, not the exploder 6.2). I did put on ACDelco filter (as opposed to cheapest) On another note, tires are also near wear bars and I had to add Dex-Cool to bring it up to the line. Does anyone remember when renting a car was like driving a new vehicle? I swear, it matters not what agency, they all just “ship it” now.

I was given an SUV with worn out tires in the winter in Canada …
Only noticed in the morning after sunrise …
Went back and for an extra $18/day - got new winter tires …

 

[Chris142]

Nope. I have added oil to the engine and air to tires though

 

[panthermike]

The ultimate bitoger

You're a good person! Who knows, maybe you helped someone in some way down the line.

 

[CapitalTruck]

The ultimate bitoger

You're a good person! Who knows, maybe you helped someone in some way down the line.

It was sadly less virtuous, I’m about to embark on long trip with the rental and I’m not looking for any trouble. Problem with GM OLM is it doesn’t tell you how far gone you are. Could have just hit 0% that morning or 2 months ago, I didn’t want to risk it.

 

[CapitalTruck]

I was given an SUV with worn out tires in the winter in Canada …
Only noticed in the morning after sunrise …
Went back and for an extra $18/day - got new winter tires …

Frustrating man…

 

[Timmastertech]

Nope. Last 3 rental cars I have gotten have had a change oil message. As long as there is oil on the stick I reset it so I dont have to look at it. If they dont care about their cars I am not going to either.

 

[Zee09]

I had to do it a few times as I told them I was going to put 3k miles on and they didn't change the oil and I would for cheap insurance and I'm not rental abuser...

I would wash the vehicle too upon return.... I always had oil and filters around.

 

[CapitalTruck]

Nope. Last 3 rental cars I have gotten have had a change oil message. As long as there is oil on the stick I reset it so I dont have to look at it. If they dont care about their cars I am not going to either.

I’m with you 99% of the time. This time I just didn’t want to risk ending up with lifter/cam failure out in the middle of nowhere

 

[CapitalTruck]

I had to do it a few times as I told them I was going to put 3k miles on and they didn't change the oil and I would for cheap insurance and I'm not rental abuser...

I would wash the vehicle too upon return.... I always had oil and filters around.

Was it out of respect for the machine or not wanting to risk breakdown? The wash before return is on a whole other level.

 

[Zee09]

Was it out of respect for the machine or not wanting to risk breakdown? The wash before return is on a whole other level.

I have mechanical sympathy.
I don't like to destroy late model cars and back in the day i liked working on cars... plus I respect others property. Thanks!

 

[CapitalTruck]

I have mechanical sympathy.
I don't like to destroy late model cars and back in the day i liked working on cars... plus I respect others property. Thanks!

I do too, but somewhere theres a line in my head between mine or a loved one’s vehicle vs one I am paying to rent from an organization that should have that thing turnkey ready for anyone to take out on the open road.

 

[I<3oil]

God no

 

[Zee09]

I do too, but somewhere theres a line in my head between mine or a loved one’s vehicle vs one I am paying to rent from an organization that should have that thing turnkey ready for anyone to take out on the open road.

One time I got payed for the oil change and that was nice as they understood the vehicle should have had it done there.

 

[Leo99]

The whole point of a rental is that it's someone else's responsibility to care for the vehicle. It's not going to break down on your short trip because the oil life goes negative.

 

[ecotourist]

I thought of doing it once. The "change oil" light was on from the start. The rental was only a few days so I put up with the light.

When I took it back I told the girl behind the counter. "No", she said, "it doesn't need an oil change. I checked the dip stick myself and it has plenty of oil."

Don't buy a rental car.

 

[Lubener]

I would never even consider changing the oil on a rental vehicle. I doubt the engine would have blown driving 1600 miles on worn out oil.

 

[berniedd]

how did the drained oil look and smell like?

 

[3GTL300k]

I had a month long rental 8-9 years ago and Hertz reimbursed the oil change cost. I don't know if they or other companies still do it.

Another long term rental I had, Enterprise wanted me to swap out the vehicle. It was a hybrid that I wanted to keep and I asked if could just take it for an oil change. They said I could take it to their oil change place and have them place charge it to their account.. I ended up doing that.

The Hertz rental I was out of town on a road trip.